SUMMARY OF THE POTTERY
The sherd analysis gives a picture of the domestic ceramic complex. A study of the whole vessels indicates the mortuary wares and shapes used by these people. That these are not the same as the domestic styles is clearly shown from the data in [Table 4]. The 31 complete or restorable vessels from Lawhorn constituted 76% mortuary types. The other 24% came from house floors and refuse pits to give a picture of the domestic wares. Except for the one unusual strap handled water bottle, these were bowls and jars of assorted size. While some shallow bowls and a few plate forms were identified from sherds no complete vessels of these types were found on the domestic scene. Shallow bowls in their complete state were entirely within the mortuary list of finds. The difference in vessel form as indicated by potsherds from the domestic complex and whole vessels for this mortuary complex is tabulated in [Table 4]. In column III only those vessels found with burials have been tabulated to give a more precise picture of the mortuary ceramic complex. This will point out how nearly the complete vessel inventory is indicative of the mortuary class. In addition to vessel type it will be noted that there is an impressive rise in the number of vessels with flat bases in the mortuary vessel group as compared to the evidence from the potsherd collection.
It becomes clear that while complete pottery vessels present an accurate ceramic picture it is a specialized one and different from that of the sherd count analysis. The difference may be a direct reflection of different segments of the village life pattern, the funerary customs on the one hand and home life on the other.
Other interpretations might be made on the same pottery and potsherd collection. Variation of mortuary wares between major towns could easily exist while utility wares of each followed a more widespread and fundamental pattern so that little variation would be apparent between two such towns if judged from potsherds, but a pronounced difference if judged by complete vessels.
With the early type pottery, or with one assumed to be early, the conclusion was reached that the best way to describe the sand tempered wares would be to call them “sand tempered plain,” “sand tempered cord marked” and “sand tempered fabric impressed.” The sand tempered plain is similar to Thomas Plain in the lower valley (Phillips, et. al., 1951; 141-2) and to Barnes Plain in the Cairo Lowland (Williams, 1956; 204). The sand tempered cord marked is similar to the Blue Lakes Cord marked in the Lower Valley (Phillips, et. al., 1951: 142-4) and to Barnes Cord marked in the Cairo Lowland (Williams, 1956: 204). The fabric impressed sand tempered sherds are similar to the Twin Lakes Fabric Impressed (Phillips, et. al., 1951: 144-5) in the lower valley and similar to the fabric impressed occurring in the Barnes series in the Cairo Lowland. It does not seem advisable to name the sand tempered sherds that are from the Lawhorn site as separate types. Further, the distribution of the Lower Valley types Thomas Plain, Blue Lake Cord marked and Twin Lakes Fabric Impressed appear to be too far away to equate them with the Lawhorn series on the basis of the sample at Lawhorn. The same can be said for the Barnes series.
The pottery was first classified with the aid of books and advice of several archaeologists. Before publication a check of the pottery was made resulting in the re-evaluation of a few of the types. Most important was the declassification of incised sherds other than Wallace Incised. Further, the painted wares were classed as Carson Red on Buff and Nodena Red and White only.
A search of the literature on southeastern pottery was done to try to find the time period in which the Lawhorn pottery fitted. According to Phillips, Ford and Griffin (1951: 132-133), the Carson Red on Buff and Nodena Red and White are included under the term Avenue Painted and this ware extends into period B about half way. Wallace Incised, although it is primarily a late type, in period A, has been found on sites extending all the way to the end of period C. The other incised types are somewhat similar to Barton Incised and Kent Incised, but neither type could be definitely identified. Barton Incised has been found in the St. Francis area on sites extending back almost to Period D, and Kent Incised occurs at least halfway into Period B. Due to the small number of sherds and uncertainty of identification of type all of the incised sherds except Wallace were thrown into an unclassified category.
On the basis of the pottery types, the most predominant being Neeley’s Ferry Plain which starts at approximately the beginning of Period B or Period C and maintains this maximum popularity to the end of Period B, it was decided that this site probably falls in the latter part of Period B.
Pottery Disks
These were quite common on the site, particularly in areas of house concentration. A total of 33 either whole or fragmentary specimens were catalogued. Of these, six were the plain disks so common to Mississippian sites ([Fig. 17]:1) while 27 were perforated. All of the perforated specimens had a hole through the center of the disk and may well have been spindle whorls ([Fig. 17]:2). These ranged in size from 3 to 8 cm. in diameter. Nine of the spindle whorl type disks had well smoothed edges while the remaining edges were either roughly smoothed or unmodified after breaking. All of them were of Neeley’s Ferry Plain except one made from an Old Town Red sherd. The drilled disks were most commonly found in association with the houses, although several specimens were found in refuse pits. Four of the perforated disks had more than one hole drilled in them ([Fig. 17]:3). One had two completed holes with a third just started on one surface. Another example had a central hole and another drilling had been started from both sides but not carried to completion ([Fig. 17]:4).